The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
fhe Killing Of Editor Gambrell.

Last week we chronicled the murder in
Haverhill, Ohio, by saloonists, of DR.. Northup.
This week we chronicle still another murder
by the liquor interest," and the murder Of as
brave and true and talented young man as
the State of Mississippi can boast. Last
Thursday night R; D. Gambrel, editor OF the
S,Uord and Shield, of Jackson, Miss, was
waylaid by party Of whisky men as he was
passing over bridge on the way to his home,
and was shot dead. He was young man but
twenty three years Of age, OF Christian char
acter, ofsplendid talents, heroic courage, and
devoted with his whole soul to the cause for
which he has fallen. His father is one Of the
most prominent Baptist clergymen in the
State, and his mother is one Of the State off,
Union. His chief assailant Jones D. Haml-
ton, was last year leader OF the anti-Prohibi-
ton forces in the desperate contest in Kinds
County, which resulted in the victory for
Prohibition Young Gambrell was one Of the
most prominent in that contest, and has also
been one Of the most trusty leaders Of the
Prohibition party in that State. Threats and
attempts at assassination were made then. In
spite Of them he has gone ahead exposing the
enornllties of the traffic, and the political cor
ruption of those engaged in it, daring the
hatred of the political boss before whom
others trembled For this he has fallen, muir
dered in cold blood, martyr to the cause of
the home, hero as true as ever braved the
wrath Of hell As for us, our pen trembles as
we write, and our vision is blurred by the
tears that arise.
He wasone Of our most trusted correspond
dents, and has been ever since the Voice be-
gan The terrible tragedy that laid him bleed
ing from the wounds Of the bullets that
plowed him through and through, and
bruised by the fiendish blows inflicted with
the butts Of their pistols by his aSsailants,
has come to US like the death Of a personal
friend. God help those to whom he was
dearer than to all else, and strengthen them
to bear the awful horror that has fallen upon
them! Dead in his youthful manhood! Dead
in the promise of noble and unselfsh life.
Over and over that scene flashes before us:
The lonely walk upon the bridge, as the
young man, alone and unwarned. took his
way homeward; the fateful flash Of pistol
upon the dark night; the sudden cry which
those who have once heard can never again
forcet-"MURDERm the hurried tramp of
feet: flash following flash in rapid succession;
and then that silence that was, for one, 81
lence that shall never end until the grave
gives up its dead at the command of its Con-
ouerer. Haddock - Northup - Gambrelll
Citizens of America. what do you think Of
them. What do you think of the cause for
which they were willing to die, and for
as ready to die as were they! What do you
think of the murderer Of these and of thou
sands-the legalized dran1-shop system Of ouc
landl God Almighty has grown tired of
waiting for deaf ears to open and blind
eyes to see. Heaven help us, poor fools that
we are, who cannot awake to these awful
crimes against Him and against us until q
baptism Of blood tells us that the Great
Avenger has taken the cause in his own
hands and out Of ours.-Voice.